- Thursday, 31 July 2014 06:38
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was another good day for the stable yesterday with the facile success of Ainsi Fideles (pictured above) in the 2m4 1/2f handicap chase at Perth. He jumped very well in the main, with the exception of an error at the tricky ditch and he scored fairly much as he pleased in the hands of Tom Scudamore on this handicap debut. This was certainly a good piece of placement by David to find a three runner race and preserve his unbeaten record over fences - I expect he will be looking for further opportunities for him over the coming weeks. His success made it two wins from two runners at the meeting and with Ainsi Fideles adding £7,596 to the £9495 won by His Excellency the day before, it was certainly a worthwhile trip.
- Wednesday, 30 July 2014 06:44
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was another good evening for the stable last night as His Excellency (pictured above) won the handicap chase at Perth on his first try at three miles. It was a largely Scottish affair with owners Sean and Josie Tracey, travelling head lad Bob Hodge and groom Zoe Martin all coming from north of the border! Making headway two out, His Excellency led after the last and despite hanging to his right he ran on well to score by 3/4 length and the same and in so doing win for the first time since October 2012. He may not be the easiest to win with but he certainly possesses plenty of ability as he demonstrated when third in the 2013 Arkle Chase over two miles at the Cheltenham Festival. He remains open to further improvement at these sort of distances and can hopefully pick up another race of two now that he has managed to get his head in front once again.
- Tuesday, 29 July 2014 06:51
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable was on the mark last night as Azza (pictured above) made a successful transition to fences in the beginners' chase at Uttoxeter. Our former Listed hurdle winner had schooled well at home and while she was entitled to win on the best of her form over timber, you can only beat what is put in front of you. Azza is not very big but she is very agile and athletic and jumped these testing fences very well and looks capable of winning again and could hold her own in stronger company too.
- Monday, 28 July 2014 06:47
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with three on the level from Ayr, Lingfield and Windsor as well as a National Hunt fixture from Uttoxeter. Somehow Windsor have managed to get away with putting up just £28,000 in prize money across their six race card - I think that is among the lowest I have seen so far. The stable has one runner at Uttoxeter tonight; Azza in the beginners' chase at 6.20pm. Our filly was the best of these over hurdles with a mark of 129 - she finished a good third on this track last time out, has schooled well over the larger obstacles at home and looks sure to go well under stable jockey Tom Scudamore.
- Saturday, 26 July 2014 07:24
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Enjoying the Sunshine at Pond House
Once again there is no jumps racing today on what is a blank weekend for any jumps racing fans. I know I keep going on about the terrible fixture list but it is not rocket science to put a jumps card on. There are lots of holiday makers down here in Torbay, Newton Abbot is only 8 miles down the road - I won't charge them for that bit of map reading! Today we have three flat meetings we can watch from Ascot, Pontefract and Carlisle. It is amazing that the going at Ascot is good to soft yet at the other two meetings they are watering! Pontefract have a mile Listed race on the card worth £25,000 so that is a pat on the back for the Northern track.
- Saturday, 26 July 2014 06:44
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Neil Parish MP
Last night David and Martin hosted a visit from for 80 local conservative party members including MP Neil Parish. Lots of people had a go on our mechanical horse including Neil who was a good sport and is pictured above! There is no jumps racing this weekend but today we have six meetings on the flat at Ascot, York, Newmarket, Newcastle, Salisbury and Lingfield. Prize money on offer at Ascot is over £1,365,000 while at Lingfield it is just £30,000. I will say no more, except it is good race planning with no jumps cards! Come on BHA it is a weekend when most people are off work and can go racing!
- Friday, 25 July 2014 06:40
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
I was extremely impressed to see that trainer and owner Karen McLintock and Carolyn Todd should choose to give Tom Scudamore (pictured above) the leg-up aboard Run Forest Run at Uttoxeter this afternoon. This is the horse aboard which Tom Scudamore earned his twelve day holiday earlier in the week when taking the wrong course at Cartmel. It would have been easy for connections to put another jockey up, so I hope their faith and kindness will be repaid at 3.30pm this afternoon. I am sure that some of the jockeys will be giving Scu some stick and I can just imagine one or two of them saying, "Tom you had better follow us!"
